Sunflower Planting Calendar

Sunflowers are planted later than corn in most regions, and they do well in the northern and central Plains where summers are warm and the season is short.

Key points

Sunflowers prefer warm soil and are often planted soon after corn.
NASS windows run from mid May in the northern Plains to June in Kansas.
Match hybrid maturity to your planting date and fall frost.
Rotate fields and plan for bird pressure and drying.

When do you plant sunflowers?

Sunflowers are a warm-season crop, though they tolerate cooler soil than sorghum and are often planted soon after corn. Extension programs generally describe a soil temperature range for planting and advise waiting for stable conditions. Seedlings can handle a light frost in some stages, but older plants become more tender, so ask extension for local advice on frost risk.

A practical way to judge the date is to track soil temperature at seed depth over several mornings and to check your last average spring frost date. If both look good and the forecast is stable, planting is reasonable.

What is the usual sunflower planting window?

USDA NASS lists the most active planting periods in the October 2010 edition as about May 19 to June 8 in North Dakota, about May 24 to June 21 in South Dakota, about May 16 to June 7 in Minnesota, about May 25 to June 30 in Kansas and about May 1 to July 4 in Texas.

The northern Plains plant from mid to late May, while Kansas runs later because many fields are planted after wheat harvest or after a failed crop. Texas shows a long window because the state covers very different climates. Your own window depends on soil, frost and your hybrid maturity.

North Dakota and Minnesota plant in mid to late May
Kansas planting often runs into June
Texas has a very wide window

How do hybrid and type affect the plan?

Sunflowers come in oil types and confection types, which are the larger seed types sold for snacking and other food uses. The market determines the type, and the type affects management and contracts. Hybrids also vary in maturity. A later planting date may call for an earlier hybrid so the crop dries down and can be harvested before hard frost.

For example, if you farm in an area where the first fall frost usually falls in early October and you plant in mid June, ask your extension agronomist about maturity before you order seed. A shorter hybrid may make sense.

What field conditions do sunflowers like?

Sunflowers have a deep taproot and can use moisture from deep in the soil, which is part of why they fit drier regions. They prefer well-drained soils and do not like prolonged waterlogging. A soil test helps you plan fertility, and nutrient management rules vary by state.

Rotation matters because sunflowers share some diseases with other broadleaf crops. Extension programs often recommend a break of several years between sunflower crops in the same field, and your local specialist can tell you the number for your area.

What should you plan for pests, birds and harvest?

Insects and diseases vary by region, and extension programs publish annual guides with scouting and thresholds. Blackbirds can be a significant problem in some areas near maturity, and local programs may suggest management options. Any pesticide use follows the label, including pre-harvest intervals and pollinator protection. Check applicator licensing rules in your state.

Sunflower harvest comes late, and NASS lists harvest running into November in several states. Plan for drying and storage, and ask extension about moisture targets for safe storage.

What are common sunflower planting mistakes?

Planting too early into cold soil, planting too deep or in poorly prepared seedbed, and skipping rotation are three common mistakes. Another is choosing a hybrid without checking local trial data. Keep records for each field, including planting date, hybrid, stand and yield, so your decisions improve each year.

Skipping rotation breaks
Choosing hybrids without local data
Ignoring bird pressure until late

How can a worked example guide your sunflower date?

Suppose your last spring frost usually falls in the first week of May, your corn is planted and the soil has held steady at a good temperature for several mornings. You might start sunflowers in the second half of May. If you instead have a field where corn failed or wheat just came off, you can still plant sunflowers, but you should check the hybrid maturity against your first fall frost and shorten the plan if needed.

This is an example of the method, not a date for your farm. Frost dates, soil and market all change the answer, so ask your extension agronomist how local trials respond to planting date.

Keep field notes on planting date, stand count and any frost or hail events. Sunflowers in some regions are grown on fewer acres and you will not find as many neighbors with a long history, which makes your own records more useful.

Timing at a glance

Timing ranges for this topic
Item	Window	Caveat
Sunflowers, North Dakota	Most active planting from about May 19 to June 8	Usual dates describe typical field activity in that state, not a safe date for your farm. Check your own last frost date, soil temperature and your state extension guide.
Sunflowers, South Dakota	Most active planting from about May 24 to June 21	Usual dates describe typical field activity in that state, not a safe date for your farm. Check your own last frost date, soil temperature and your state extension guide.
Sunflowers, Minnesota	Most active planting from about May 16 to June 7	Usual dates describe typical field activity in that state, not a safe date for your farm. Check your own last frost date, soil temperature and your state extension guide.
Sunflowers, Kansas	Most active planting from about May 25 to June 30	Usual dates describe typical field activity in that state, not a safe date for your farm. Check your own last frost date, soil temperature and your state extension guide.

When to get local help: Ask your county extension office or a certified crop adviser about hybrids, rotations and market contracts for your area.

Sources and further reading

Last reviewed: November 2026. Educational information, ranges only. Confirm timing with your county extension office.

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